Fox Television Stations join, Media General and Cox in re-upping the syndicated talker, pushing clearances to more than 50% of the U.S. entering NATPE.
‘Wendy Williams’ Renewed Through 2019-20
Debmar-Mercury has renewed the nationally syndicated The Wendy Williams Show through the 2019-20 television season on the Fox Television Stations.
Combined with renewals on stations belonging to Media General and Cox, Wendy has already been cleared in more than 50% of the U.S. entering NATPE, according to Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus, co-presidents of Lionsgate-owned Debmar-Mercury.
The renewal of the hit topical talk franchise, which has become a strong morning news lead-out in many markets, will bring back one of the nation’s top syndicated talk shows for its ninth, 10th and 11th seasons. During the November sweeps, Wendy finished either No. 1 or 2 in the key demo of women 25-54 in 55% of the U.S. and 20 of the top-25 markets, according to Debmar-Mercury.
Bernstein and Marcus commented, “Wendy’s across-the-board strength in the demo most important to advertisers has made this talk show an indispensable part of stations’ daytime schedules. With these renewals, our valuable station partners can be assured this key lynchpin of their lineups will continue for many years to come, especially when it comes to having a powerful and dependable entertainment lead-out from many of their important morning news blocks. None of this would be possible without Wendy’s extraordinary talent and ability to captivate millions of loyal viewers each day.”
Wendy, which began as a summer test on the Fox stations in 2008 and went into national syndication in fall 2009, recorded first-place finishes during the November 2015 sweeps on the Fox stations in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington, Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix, Detroit and Orlando, a streak that also extends to many medium- and smaller-sized markets.
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